Oregon Volcano Powers New Energy Tech

Mazama Energy is developing geothermal projects near the Newberry Volcano in central Oregon. The startup is injecting high-pressure water into hot rocks two miles underground, creating “supercritical” water that drives turbines. This method yields five to ten times more energy than conventional geothermal plants, using less water and fewer wells.

Mazama reached 629 degrees Fahrenheit in a recent well, a record for geothermal systems. Fervo Energy, based in Houston, is also advancing geothermal technology with a $462 million project in Utah, aiming for two gigawatts of capacity. Though the U.S. leads in installed geothermal capacity with 3.9 GW, it still only provides 0.4 percent of the nation’s energy.

Researchers acknowledge challenges remain, including managing superhot temperatures and minimizing the risk of induced seismicity. However, new drilling techniques and monitoring systems are mitigating these concerns, and experts estimate geothermal could meet 15 percent of global electricity demand growth to 2050.